The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) established the “Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Infections with the Resumption of Interpersonal Keiko (Taijin-teki-keiko)” on June 4, 2020. Since then, as kendo practitioners have followed these guidelines, there have been no outbreaks of clusters observed due to kendo keiko. In addition, while COVID-19 infections have not been contained over the past year, vaccinations have begun to make progress. The AJKF has revised the “Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Infections with the Resumption of Interpersonal Keiko” (hereafter referred to as “AJKF Guidelines”) in light of these circumstances and in consideration of the following: (1) kendo keiko can fall under what are known as the “three Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings); (2) there are many droplets that can be a source of infection for COVID-19; (3) the new coronavirus can be transmitted from asymptomatically infected people; and (4) mutations of the virus are increasing.

Kendo practitioners are asked to follow these guidelines in keiko. Furthermore, each organization should refer to the AJKF Guidelines and work to create their own guidelines based on the infection situation in their region, membership composition (age, gender, level of training), practice location, weather conditions, etc.

Although the AJKF Guidelines have been developed with the cooperation of experts, there is not necessarily a sufficient body of scientific knowledge on how to prevent infections of COVID-19. For this reason, please note that these guidelines have been prepared based on the knowledge available at the present time. Also, it should be noted that this information may be revised in accordance with the further accumulation of knowledge and the infection situation in each region.

Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Infections with the Resumption of Interpersonal Keiko (Taijin-teki-keiko)

＊Please note that this guidance relates specifically to Japan. Overseas practitioners should follow the rules in their country.